Older people key providers of food

At first, the situation seems contradictory: Older people are the key producers and providers of food, yet millions go hungry. They play a vital role in producing, preparing and providing food and high proportion of farmers in developing countries are older people.

In Jamaica for example, the average age of farmers is over 55. In Mozambique, more than two-thirds of the Small Farmers Union members are over 50.

However, there are many reasons why so many older people are going hungry. Reduced mobility can affect older people's access to food. Land can also be a problem; as the need for farmland increases, older people can be victims of land grabbing. The declining capacity to farm, changes in the environment, as well as the demands of caring and insufficient income can also be huge issues for older people.

Food crisis and drought in Ethiopia

The crisis in Ethiopia has been a big focus of our work recently and is an example of many of the above reasons converging and leading to devastating results.

Ali, 74, a former pastoralist in Ethiopia said: "When there is no rain there is no water, so there is no pasture and our animals die. Because of the drought, most of my children are living far away, so getting enough food is very difficult. Sometimes I have to beg to survive and my neighbours help to cook food for me."

The situation is similar for older people in Ethiopia living in urban settings. We surveyed 1,070 older people in Addis Ababa last year. 79% said they ate only once or twice a day. Since then food prices have surged 32.2% (according to the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency, May 2011).

Grandparents in Ethiopia are the primary carers for 2.5 million children, but the food price hikes mean these grandparents now frequently have to choose between feeding themselves or their grandchildren. Invariably, they prioritise the children.

Cash grants only means of survival

Our work helping older people in Ethiopia has highlighted how vulnerable pastoralists have become due to the recent drought. Some villagers told us over 70% of the livestock they depend on for survival have been lost.

Food insecurity is undoubtedly the main issue for older people in the areas of Ethiopia where we're working. Another effect of a lack of food is that those receiving medicines cannot always take them, because they have to take pills with food.

Older people's nutritional needs not met

Kurfa Alake Dibo, a 90 year old woman, came to collect her cash transfer. She is deaf and needs someone familiar to speak for her. She was accompanied by her son and although we couldn't understand her completely, her gestures clearly said "I am hungry".

Solutions to global food crisis?

Alison Rusinow, HelpAge's Country Director in Ethiopia, who has previously written a blog about food price hikes offers some solutions to the current crisis:

"The needs of older people and those they care for, must urgently be taken into consideration. The feeding and cash transfer programmes mentioned here are examples of projects that are essential but are more and more difficult to fund.

"Agricultural solutions are vital, changes to the way markets work are essential, the issues of land grabbing and the use of prime agricultural land to produce fuel for cars that are largely driven in developed countries all need attention.

"If the solutions to the global food crisis do not include ways to address the needs of the world's most vulnerable groups, including older people, much of the progress made to improve food security and reduce poverty globally in the last 50 years will be undone and accompanied by the risk of increased insecurity, and more civil and international conflicts."